STRANGER THINGS /// INTERVIEW WITH RYNE NORMAN

Hey Friends, I know it's been awhile since I have posted and even longer since I've done an interview with anyone but you know life is busy. We all say that I know. I just had to post my friends New Single because I love it so much! I hope you feel the same way. I had the privilege of meeting Ryne when he was in town touring. He actually stayed at our house and immediately liked him. Other than Hella talented ...He is one of the most kind, thoughtful, jazzed about life dudes you will ever meet and I'm proud/lucky to be his friend. The dude has never met a stranger.

Hope you Enjoy this interview along with song!

Name ///
Ryne Norman @rynorman

Where have you spent majority of your life? are you there now? If no where do you live now?

I spent the majority of my life in the suburbs of Phoenix. Growing up in phoenix though, everything is kind of a suburb. Although I’m glad I don’t live in the desert anymore, theres a part of me thats proud to be from the southwest & I think I always will be a proud Arizona kid.
I currently now reside in good ole’ music city. Nashville, Tennessee. 

How long have you been writing/ creating music?
When I was a little kid I started a band with my cousins where I basically just hit the play button on pre-recorded loops of a Cassio piano. We all thought that was cool, but me especially. So I dove into it a bit more and started exploring sounds that I could make myself. Then my dad gave me his guitar when I was around 11, he taught me a few chords, and I would lock myself in my room for hours on end practicing & trying new sounds & melodies. I wrote my first song when I was learning how to play the guitar.
They both kind of came to me at the same time, & I loved it. Since then, it has just been a bunch of learning & growing up. So in short, haha I guess since I was about 11,  so 14+ years.

First song you remember hearing. That song that takes you back to a childhood memory ///

Two Princes by Spin Doctors.
I still guiltily love that song today, but thats the first song I can ever remember hearing & loving. My parents even have a video of me dancing to it as a little guy.
“If you like to talk for hours… just go ahead now”

What is your all time favorite song ///
With or Without You - U2 (re-wrote this at least 10 times with different answers FYI)

Have to ask... what is your least favorite song ever?
Probably Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson 

What inspired Stranger Things ///
Realizing you’re falling in love when its the last thing you’re looking for can be a strange phenomenon sometimes. It definitelly was for me when I first met my wife. This song is inspired by a combination of the energy from how we met, what drew me to her, & the emotions that kind of stirred in me from then on out. Its a power ballad about simply finding love where you least expected it & how amazingly strange it truly can be. (Unfortunately, there was no ties or inspiration from the show at all haha)

If you could pick out any musicians to make up your dream band who would they be? Be honest and don't name your friends Ha! ///
Anderson .Paak - drums, Pino Palladino - bass, Blake Mills - guitar, & Cory Henry - keys.
The dream team.
Honestly though, I’d probably just let .Paak sing & I’d sit back, watch & listen. 

If you were trying to describe your sound to a stranger what would you say?

If Ryan Adams, Dawes, & the 1975 all got drunk, started a band together, & accidentally all signed a 5 album recording deal. I’m the 3rd album they’d make when they all kind of stopped hating each other for getting drunk & signing the record deal & then kind of start finding their niche.

Hahaha but all this aside, I truly do long to create my own recognizable sound, that people might one day make a reference back to me. 

Best time and place to listen to Stranger Things?

Definitely on a Friday night, in the spring or fall when its not too cold outside yet but its just cool enough to need a light layer.

After you’ve had a few cocktails, in the back seat of your Uber. Windows down, while driving on busy, bright, lively downtown streets.

(okay fine, in Manhattan obviously).

Who is your audience?

My audience, I hope, are people who desire to be inspired & filled up more than just another distraction on the radio. Music lovers & other creatives who enjoy creativity and value great songwriting & producing over notoriety & accessibility.

Where can we see you play next?

I’m currently working on a tour for early next year once my album is out, so stay tuned for that. I will be playing a CD release show in Nashville sometime in early December, late November. The date is TBA, but you can check my website or socials for all tour/show announcements. 

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SOCIAL ///
www.rynenorman.com
www.instagram.com/rynorman
www.facebook.com/rynenormanmusic www.twitter.com/rynorman
https://www.open.spotify.com/artist/0JsGjzKmKrbklmvqGFCQgG

CONTACT ///

Ryne Norman // rynenorman@gmail.com
info@hardspeakrecords.com

CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT LIST ///

Sometimes you have to get out of your house to get work done. In our case we had to get out of town. We always have this long list of things that never gets chiseled down because something else always comes up. Is this just us or do you have the same problem? Maybe we are just easily distracted. Anyway, California was a successful move in chiseling away at that list while still getting some friend time in.

Little update on my healthy balance post, I now have someone that I trust 100 percent that will be booking my appointments and contacting my clients. This will free up my time so I can focus more on what I am good at, my craft and making improvements around the Salon. This is also beneficial to my clients so they get a faster response. 

Taking the rest of the week to get it all sorted so that everyone can get an email with my new hours and prices first thing Monday morning. 

 I am trying to decide on an email server. Do you have any suggestions? Mailchimp?

SHIRT /// I have worn this shirt 3 days in a row since I bought it.... I love how comfortable it is and it's perfect for beach days, running errands, and hanging out. Easy breezy so you don't get too hot.

HAT ///My hat collection is insane. I feel like you can never have too many hats. Living in Houston and the places we travel I am always in need to 1. look like I'm making an effort 2. Not have to wash my hair 3. protect my face and hair from too much sun /// I wore this hat during travel, dinner and cocktails with friends, to the beach, and the pool. *When going through airport security ask them if you can hold your hat instead of going through the x-ray scanner because they might forever bend your rim.

SUNNIES ///Can't go wrong with the classics. I feel like these are my timeless shades. They will never go out of style and they go with everything. 

FLOPS ///What can I say about flip flops other than they are quick to grab and easy to wear. Also a classic look. The soles on these are comfortable for all day wearing. Another plus is my good friend Brianna is the head designer for this company and she has the best style. 

ALL ABOUT THAT HEALTHY BALANCE ///

We all strive for that healthy balance, but do we ever really get there? What would it look like if we did? 

How can I have a successful career, make time for God, be a good wife, daughter, sister, supportive friend, mentor, have a social life, recharge, workout, keep growing as a person, keep clients happy, find new passions, keep up with emails/texts, stay sane, volunteer, make time for new people, and actually be happy? 

Have you ever written it out so you can actually look at it? We put all this pressure on ourselves and for what? Why do we put value on ourselves based on "success" ? 

I don’t want this post to come off negative at all.  I just want to be honest about my life at a stylist, salon owner, and online shop owner. 

I am very thankful for this life of mine and I really love what I do.  I’m just trying to figure it out like the rest of y'all. I'm trying to figure out how to be 100 for myself, my family, my clients, my customers, and my friends.

People who say they have it all figured out are 

1. Lying or 

2. About to explode. 

I’m just at a place in my life where I need to make some small healthy changes for a better quality of life. 

Without a healthy balance I will burn out fast in all areas of my life! It has already started.

That’s not fair to anyone around me or myself.  ***We should all be living our best life. Because, YOLO!!!

Here's a little peek into my life and what it looks like now when I’m in town /// 

SUNDAY  /// My official day off!  If we are in town, we wake up and go to church, get a workout in, host small group at our house,  and try to respond to clients throughout the day.  

MONDAY /// Sometimes I work at the salon on Monday and if I don't I'm booking appointments through emails and texts… especially if I have a trip coming up soon. This is my only real day to get things done around the house, orders for the Bueno Shop, relax/recharge…  

TUESDAY- SATURDAY /// Wake up to texts from clients and immediately start responding or playing catch up from day before....I never seem to be able to text everyone back because life happens. 

- Have Coffee with Jacob or my mom but I'm rarely ever present because I am texting clients back at the same time. 

- Go to workout at The League - I love this place and when I skip a workout my whole day is thrown off and I lack energy. I often skip a workout if a client needs to get in.

- Shower, eat, get supplies, drive to work 

- Start my day at Do or Dye Tx /// If I have a break from clients I try to respond to texts, emails, post on the salon IG account, update website, talk and check in with my co workers, rearrange the salon, take photos, plan changes around salon, and train our assistant so she can learn as much as possible from us. 

- After work /// Dinner with friends, meetings, date night happens 3-5 times a week.  When we don't have plans, Jacob has my glass of wine ready for me (if he’s home) and I sit at the island while he cooks and I text and email clients for an hour or so. 

- Watch TV, Hang out on Roof, Blog, Pass out

Other things that I have to fit in this schedule  so that our business continues to grow  /// Go to the salon when we have repairs done, updates to improve salon, meetings, meet up with new stylists coming to work with us, keep up with hair education so I stay inspired, take classes, shopping for salon, product knowledge, take photos for website and IG, host classes, future planning.....This Post :)

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As I type this I want you to know that I feel blessed that I get to do all these things. I just need to find my Healthy Balance.

I am happy that we created a place where I actually love everyone I work with.

I feel lucky that the people who surround me on a daily basis inspire me and that we all learn things from each other. 

I’m thankful I have so many texts and emails from existing and new clients! I love my clients, they become my friends.

These words are not coming from an ungrateful place. 

They’re coming from me, a girl who is trying to do too much, not letting go of control, and over committing myself. 

I AM TIRED. 

I have been tired.  At the end of my work day I don't really want to be social but I force myself to.  I can't shut off work mode and I feel like I have nothing left in me. 

As a natural introvert I’m not reserving time to recharge.  

I know this!  I’ve known all these things for a while. I know what changes I need to make;  but since I am a people pleaser I keep putting it off. 

Changes I would like to make for a more balanced life

— Check in with God first thing in the morning.  My best days are when I have my quiet time with Him.  He usually reveals something to me that has been on my mind. He gives me answers. And I get an overwhelming feeling of Love.

--  Spend more time with my Family.

— Have my clients prebook at the end of each appointment or hire someone to book my appointments so I don't spend so much time on my phone. 

— Workout everyday.  Make that a priority because I mentally need it.  I feel good after a good sweat and it's something Jacob and I really enjoy doing together! 

— I need to cut back and change my hours behind the chair so that I'm not burnt out.  That would free up my time to do other things I love for the salon. 

— I need to set designated work days for Bueno so the business can grow and I can create items that have just been doodles in my notebooks for years. 

— Stop over committing in my social life.  because it is part of the problem with never feeling like I'm caught up in Adulting. 

-- Meal Prep at the beginning of the week or at least plan meals so that I'm eating clean. I've noticed when we don't eat clean we tend to be more groggy, moody, and we don't feel awesome. 

— Replace wine and tv after work with something more creative and stimulating… reading, guitar lessons, cooking classes, dance classes, or learn a foreign language. Don't get me wrong....I will still Drink wine I just don't want it to be my go to wind down everyday.  ;)

I started this post last week and immediately started to make a few changes on the list that have made a huge impact. I am excited for this new chapter in my life and hope that you join me in finding your healthy balance. Start with a list and lets check back with each other soon. I am going to try to give weekly updates on IG stories and the blog. Happy Hump Day!